Such a parcel of rogues in a nation - A Song -
Fareweel to a' our Scotish fame,
Fareweel our ancient glory;
Fareweel even to the Scotish name,
Sae kend in martial story!
Now Sark rins o'er the Solway-sands,
And Tweed rins to the ocean,
To mark where England's province stands-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation
What guile or force could not subdue,
Thro' many warlike ages,
Is wrought now by a coward few
For hireling traitor's wages:
The English steel we could disdain,
Secure in valour's station;
But English gold has been our bane,
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation -
O would, ere I had seen the day
That Treason thus could sell us,
My auld gray head had lien in clay
Wi' Bruce & loyal Wallace!
But pith & power, to my last hour,
I'll breathe this exclamation;
We're bought & sold for English gold -
Such a parcel o' rogues in a nation -
Fareweel to a' our Scotish fame,
Fareweel our ancient glory;
Fareweel even to the Scotish name,
Sae kend in martial story!
Now Sark rins o'er the Solway-sands,
And Tweed rins to the ocean,
To mark where England's province stands-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation
What guile or force could not subdue,
Thro' many warlike ages,
Is wrought now by a coward few
For hireling traitor's wages:
The English steel we could disdain,
Secure in valour's station;
But English gold has been our bane,
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation -
O would, ere I had seen the day
That Treason thus could sell us,
My auld gray head had lien in clay
Wi' Bruce & loyal Wallace!
But pith & power, to my last hour,
I'll breathe this exclamation;
We're bought & sold for English gold -
Such a parcel o' rogues in a nation -
Mrs Hume -
Mr Burns
Mr Burns

Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/46
- Alt. number
- 3.6186
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/46
- Alt. number
- 3.6186
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
Description
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation. 3 eight-line verses begins "Fareweel to a' our Scottish fame".
In modern publications the first line in the second verse is "What force or guile."
Sixth line, third verse in modern versions is also printed (and sung) as "I'll mak this declaration."
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- Such a parcel of rogues in a nation